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Jennifer Novak and her children Sascha Novak (left), 5, and Mia Novak, 8, all of Dunmore listen to Rabbi Daniel Swartz read his book Bim and Bom A Shabbat Tale near Temple Hesed's new PJ Library program which provides children's books with Jewish themes to children in the congregation. Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer

JAKE DANNA STEVENS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Books available through the PJ Library, which provides children’s books with Jewish themes to families in the Temple Hesed congregation.

Jennifer Novak makes it a point to read to her two children, Mia, 8, and Sascha, 5, every night before bed.

They read a wide variety of children’s books, including those that delve into their Jewish faith and heritage.

The Novaks’ synagogue, Temple Hesed in the East Mountain section of Scranton, recently became one of 58 Reform Jewish congregations to receive a grant to take part in the national PJ Library program.

A family engagement program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), PJ Library partners with local Jewish organizations and donors to send free, high-quality Jewish children’s books to families on a monthly basis.

Goal to spur talk

The hope is that the books stir conversation about Jewish culture and values in the home.

“The idea is that it starts with family,” said Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Temple Hesed’s spiritual leader.

To subsidize the PJ Library’s subscription cost, Temple Hesed received a grant from the Grinspoon Foundation, the Union for Reform Judaism and the Women of Reform Judaism, which was then matched locally through funding provided by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Jewish Community Center and some private donors.

In addition to the grant, Temple Hesed receives professional development resources and programming support. For instance, not long ago, the synagogue hosted a Rainbow Celebration for kids that was geared around the story of Noah’s Ark.

So far, about a dozen families are enrolled in the PJ Library, Rabbi Swartz said. The program can accommodate up to 40 families, and in time that number will jump to 50.

And it’s not just Temple Hesed congregation members who have access to the library.

“Any family with Jewish kids in Lackawanna County, it’s open to,” Rabbi Swartz said. “It’s a nice entree to the (local Jewish) community.”

More specifically, the library is available to Jewish families with children ages 6 months to 8 years. They can sign up online at www.pjlibrary.org/scranton.

New books monthly

Once enrolled, families receive a new book every month. Many revolve around Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah, which begins at sundown today.

Titles include “The Schmutzy Family,” “The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey,” “The Passover Lamb,” “Bagels from Benny,” “Beautiful Yetta the Yiddish Chicken” and “Bim and Bom: A Shabbat Tale.” The latter book was written by Rabbi Swartz in the 1990s, and has now reached over 30,000 households through PJ Library.

“Anyone who takes a look at the books they send out can see they are top quality,” Rabbi Swartz said. “It’s a variety of illustration styles and subjects.”

Each book comes with two flaps — one that gives information on the Jewish holiday or theme discussed in the book, and another that offers fun educational exercises parents can do with their kids.

The Novaks received books through PJ Library back when they lived in Westchester County, New York, and were happy to get back on board via Temple Hesed.

Now, Temple Hesed’s goal is to get the word on the PJ Library out to the broader Jewish community. Mrs. Novak has been doing it in her role as the congregation’s Facebook account manager, while several other congregation members have taken to social media as well.

“We’re just trying to get the word out that this is a fun thing,” Rabbi Swartz said. “We certainly want people to sign up.”

For more information on the PJ Library, visit www.pjlibrary.org/scranton, or call Temple Hesed at 570-344-7201.

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